Art of treating grain in bulk by electricity



Oct. 23, 1923.

F. E3. SMITH ART OF TREATiNG GRAIN- IN BULK BY ELECTRICITY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12 1919 INVENTOR wwm' ATTORNEY mvmza Get. 23, 1923.

F. 5. SMITH ART OF TREATING GRAIN IN BULK BY ELECTRICITY Filed Feb. 12, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I B I I ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1923.

- F. s. SMITH I ART OF TREATING GRAIN IN BULK BY ELECTRICITY- Filed Feb. 12, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Get. 23, 1923 S. SMITH ART TREATING GRAIN IN BULK BY ELECTRICITY Fi led Feb. 12, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J g/g INVENTOR UZWA a B .04 WM ATTORNEY Fatented Get. 1923. V

FRANKLIN S. SMITH, OF PHILADELP PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROD- UCTS PROTECTION CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPO WARE.

Application filed February 12, 191a Serial No. 276,553.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. SMITI-I,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in .the Art of Treating Grain in Bulk by Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of treating grains of all kinds in bulk with electricit for the purpose of destroying the insect 1i e which may be present therein or thereon; that is, grains not confined or inclosed in cartons, and it has for one of its objects to provide a process ormethod which may be economically practiced and which, at the.

same time, shall be efiicient and efficacious.-

A further object of my invention is to provide a process which may be operated continuously; that is, without interruption as long as the grain and the energy are supilied. 1 Another and more specific object is 1.0 provide a process or method in which the grain is caused to flow continuously through fields or spaces across which electrical disruptive conduction is taking place to destroy the insect life with which such grain may be infested.

Another object of my invention is to effeet the treatment in a plurality of succes sive steps. The grain, of whatever kind. or

' character, is first subjected to electric diswith electrical disruptive conduction energy ruptive conduction through a dielectrlc of a quality or character such that the insect life upon the surfaces of the grains, or particles thereof, are destroyed, and thereafter .to another treatment or other treatments through adielectric of a quality or character such that the current is caused to pass through the grains or particles of grain and destroys the insects. their pupae, larvae and eggs which may be present within the interior of the grain or particles thereof.

Another and further object of myinven-v or quality of the dielectric through which the disruptive conduction takes place and with which the grains or particles are surrounded.

Another object of my invention is to pro-- vide a process of treating grain by means of dlsruptive conductive current while surrounded wlth a volume of gas under pressure.

tionwill occur to those skilled in the art and will be apparentfrom or will be in the detailed description thereof which follows.

rron or 11-" Other objects and advantages of my invenpointed out i.

Although the process or method is not dependent upon any particular form or construction of apparatus, some form of apparatus is necessary from a practical standpoint in order that the invention may be of commercial value. Accordingly, therefore, l have illustrated, more or ess schematically, one form of apparatus which may be employed in the practicing of my invention. As indicated, it will be understood that other forms of apparatus than that shown may be employed.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of an apparatus adapted for the carrying out or practicing of my invention; A

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan with certain of the parts removed and broken away in order to illustrate other parts of the apparatus more clearly;

' Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively are vertical sectional views of a portion of the apparatus with certain. parts {thereof in different positions in the difl'erent views to indicate the operation thereof in supply-,

ing the grain substantially continuously from its region of first treatment to a region or field of second treatment and in controlling the character of the dielectric; and

Figs. 10,11, 12,13, 14 and 15 are similar.

views of similar mechanism showing certain parts thereof in different positions to indicate the manner in which. the grain, after it has been finally treated, is discharged from the apparatus, also the manner in which it co-operates with the mechanism'.'

illustrated in Figs. 3 to 9 and in Fig. 1 control the character of the dielectric in the field'o-f the second and final treatment.

Before proceeding to describe in detail the invention and the apparatus by means of which it may be practiced and which is illustrated in the drawings, a brief description of the process or method will be given.

. In the carrying out of the procem constituting'my invention, grain of all kinds, such as wheat, rye, rice, maize, barley, oats, millet, etc., as well as other granular products which are adapted to be subjected to a treatment in accordance with my invention, is

subjected to electrical disruptive conduction successively in dielectrics of different character, whereby the insect .lite, .both upon the surface and upon the interior ofthe grains being treated is completely destroyed.

Stating the. invention somewhat more specifically, the grain, or other granular products which are adapted .to be treated according to .my'invention, issupplied to an apparatus such as herein depicted and is caused to flow first through a field across which electrical disruptive conduction is taking place through a diclectric of a char acter such that the current will be permitted to tlow around or over the grains or particles thereof or other granular material adapted to be treated according to my invention, and destroy the insect lite which may be present thereon. The grain or other granular .material is thereafter caused to fiow through a second field or region con- I taining a dielectric of a character such that the disruptive conductive current which flows or discharges across said. field or region is caused to pass through the grains or other granular product and destroy such til) 7 0 causing a one-hundred per cent insect life as may be present within the interior thereof. s

The dielectric employed by me in the carrying out of my invention consists of at- -mospheric air which is employed at normal pressure during the first step of the treatment above mentioned and at a pressure of from approximately two to three atmospheres during the secondstep of said treatment, depending upon the grain under treatment,corn requiring, as far as I now how, the highest pressure.

It may he found that in the treatment of certain grain or other granular product the pressure of the air through which the dis ruptive, conductive current is caused to passmay be less than two atmospheres but more than one, also that in the treatment of other grains a pressure greater than three atmospheres may be required.

Although T prefer to treat the grain or other granular product first in air or'other suitable gas at normal pressure and secondly in air or other suitable gas at a pressure, above normal as described because when so practiced it is extremel etlicient,- estruction oiiall-insectlite which may be present thereduring the treatment and the treatment continued for the proper length of time in air above normal pressure, all cit-the insect life with which the grain or other granular product may be infested will be completely destroyed.

After the final treatment of the grain'or other granular product it preferably should be discharged directly and immediately from the apparatus intothe receptacle, of whatever character, which may be prepared therefor. This receptacle should be so con structed as to'prevent the access of insects or insect life thereto, otherwise the mate rial which shallhave been treated may be come reinfested,

Referring to the drawingsl designates a hopper situated at the top part'ot the apparatus. The lower portion of the said hopper is of funnel shape and its lower end projects into the upper end of a hollow, tubular, hub-like portion 2 which is formed integrally with a saucer shaped circular, sheet member 3 of baekelized fiber or other equivalent material. The upper, open end of the hopper 1 is provided with a couple of screens t through which the grain or other granular material to be treated passes. The purpose of the said screens is to prevent the passa e into the apparatus of foreign matter. he annular, circuitlfiat portion 5 ot' the member 3 is situated' a short distance lOCl from and in parallel relation to the upper surface of a circular, rotatable disk 6 of steel or other suitable metal. 7' designates a series otmetallic balls secured upon the 'lower ends of metallic stems which project MHZ:

having connection with the metallic balls 7.

Electric current,-either alternating or unidirectional, is supplied to the plate 10 through awire 11 having connection with the secondary of a transformer 12. It will be understood that whenin operation disruptive conduction will take place between the obs or balls 7 of the condensers and the plate or'disk 6.

The center of the plate or disk 6 is provided with a-post or upward projection to which forms with the interior surface of the huh-lilremernher 2 an annular chamber ace within the latter around which the grain or other granular material discharged from the hopper 1 accumulates. Such grain or other material is discharged froml said annular chamber into the flat, thin, annular space between the annular portion 5 of the member 3 and an annular portion of the disk 6. It may be noted here that preferably the condensers 8 are inclosed within a chamber formed by the inverted covering member 16, the lower edge of which is provided with a lateral annular flange which is secured to the upper, laterally extended edge portion of the member 3.

The rotatable disk member 6 is secured to the upper end of a shaft 20, said upper end projecting into a hole in the lower end of a central hub portion 21 integral with the said disk. The upper end portion of the shaft 20 is supported in a bearing at 22 formed in a central, flattened, wall por-- tion 23 constituting an intermediate portion of duplex, downwardly tapered hoppers or chambers 25 and 26. The lower end of the shaft 20 is supported upon a corresponding part 27 of duplex downwardly tapered hopper members 28 and 29 into which the material discharged after it is a second time and finally treated. Rotation of the shaft 20 is effected by means of bevel gears 30 and 31, the former being secured to the shaft 20 and the latter uponthe inner end of a shaft 32 driven by any suitable power (not shown).

It will be understood that the space intermediate the portion 5 of the member 3 and the disk 6 having direct communication with the atmosphere, the first treatment takes place or is effected in air as a dielectric at normal atmospheric pressure.

The rotation of the diskfi effects the latteral outward movement of the grain or granular product of other kind, the respective grains or particles thereof traveling in a curvilinear path. In the outward travel ofthe grain it is thoroughly agitated and the grains turn over and over so that it is presented at different angles and so that every part thereof is presented to the action of the disruptive conductive current. The

material is discharged over the edges of the disk 6 and is delivered into the hoppers or receivers 25 and 26. From these it is alter nately discharged into receivers 35 and 36, the former being shown as-full of material and the latter empty. From these recep tacles 35 and 36 the material is alternate y discharged into an inverted cone-shaped hopper 37 from which the material is distheir upper ends are each connected with a steel or other metal plate 43 to which one end of a wire 44 is connected, said wire having connection with the secondary of a transformer 45. transformer has connection also with the secondary of the transformer 12 and both with a ground wire 46 and with a wire 47 having connection with the apparatus as shown. The lower ends of condensers 42 are provided with 'stems or projections which extend through the bottom annular portion of the member 41 and are provided with knobs 48 like the knobs! previously described. These knobs 48 are arranged in a plane parallel to the upper surface of a rotatable disk 50 secured near the lower end of the shaft 20. The passage of the shaft 20 through the hub-like portion 40 forms an annular chamber in the latter. The grain or other material being treated is discharged from this chamber into the laterally extending annular, relatively thin space between the bottom flat portion of the member 41 and the upper surface of the disk 50. Rotation of the latter efi'ects the flow of the said material latera'ly through the space between the member 41 and the disk 50 in the manner described above in connection with the discharge of the material from the space between the portion 50f the member 3 and the disk 6. The material as it is discharged after the second treatment described, is delivered into the tapered re-' ceiving chambers 28 and 29. From the latter it is discharged into the receiving re ceptacles 55 and 56.

The second-ary of said v The taperedv hopper '37, the condensers 42 and the plate 43 are inclosed within a chamber formed by the part 57 which is connected to the upper, outer edges of the cone-shaped receiving hopper 28 and 29. The upper edge of-the hopper 37 is secured by an air-tight connection at 60 to the top plate of the inclosing member 57. The in terior of the hopper 37 is in communication through the hub-like member 40 with the interiors of the hoppers 28 and 29 and is adapted to beplaced in communication with the receptacles 55 and 56 upon properly timed actuations of valves 65 and 66; also with'the interiors of the receptacles 35 and 36 upon proper y timed actuation of the valves 83 and 84. As already intimated, the second treatment is effected in air under pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure. It is necessary therefore, that the chambers or spaces in which the second treatments are effected or performed and to which the air shall have access shall be air-tight so that the airmay be maintained at the pressure desired as above described. The air under pressure is delivered to the hopper 37 through a' pipe 62, the inner end of whichextends through the top part of the plate 57 as shown in Fig. 1. lit will. be seen that the air delivered at this time has direct access to the region or space between the members ll and 50 across which the disruptive conductive current flows.

The material is admitted from the hoppers 25 and 26 through passageways 70 and 41 which are adapted to be opened and closed lay means of rotatable valves 72 and .73. 'ommunication of the interiors of the rece tacles and 36 is effected through pipes 5 and 76, the outer ends of which communicate with a valve casing 77 provided with a rotatable valve 78 having a couple of passages 79 and 80 which extend therethrough. When "the said valve is in a certain position the interiors of said receptacles have direct com-- munication with each other through the.

pipes 75 and 76 and one of the passageways through the valve. When in another posi tion, such as shown in Fig. 3, the outer ends of the pipes 75 and 76 are closed and neither communicate with each other nor with the air. The various positions assumed by the valve 78 are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 9 inclusive. The interiors of the receptacles 35 and 36 are in communication with the hopper 37 through passageways 81'and.

' 82 which are adapted to be opened and closed The treated material which is discharged into the receptacles 55 and 56 is delivered from the latter to a discharge pipe 89 through passageways 90 and 91 which are 35 adapted to be opened and closed by means efiiected simultaneously or successively, pre

of valves 92 and 93. Communication between the receptacles 55 and 56 to establish equalization of pressure between the two is efi'ected through pipes 95 and 96 which are joined at their outer ends to a valve casing 97 provided with a rotatable valve 98 having a single passageway 99 extending therethrough.

' The operation of the valves to permit the erably in the latter manner. In such position it will be observed that the material has been dischar ed from the receptacle 35 into the hopper 3 and that the receptacle 36 has been filled with the material. The next thing that happens is that the valves 83 and 73 are closed as shown in Fig. 4:. Next the valve 78' is turned so as'to bring the pipes and 76 into communication as shown in amines Fig. 5 so that the pressure between the two receptacles 35 and 36 is e ualized.

When the valve 83 is in t e position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be understood that the interior of the receptacle 35 is in direct communication with the interior of the hopper 37 in ,whichthe pressure of the atmospheric air or other gas which may be employed is approximately three atmosheres, and that consequently the pressure in the said receptacle is also approximately three atmospheres. Upon turning the valve 78 in to the position shown in Fig. 5, the pressure'will become equalized so that in both of the receptacles 35 and 36 it will be fifteen pounds in excess of normal air pressure, or, in other words, a pressure of two atmospheres in each receptacle.

The next position of the valves is shown in Fi 6 in which it will be observed that the Va vs 78 has been turned so as to close the receptacle 36 into the hopper 37 while the material, at the same time, is permitted to flow from the hopper 25 into the receptacle 35.

The position next assumed by the valves is indicated in Fig. 8 from which it will be observed that the valve 78 remains in the same position as shown in Fig. 7 but the valves 84 and 72 have been closed.

The next position of the valves is shown in Fig. 9 in which the valve 78 has been turned into position so as to establish communication between the pipes 7 5 and 76 so as to establish equilibrium of air and gas pressure in the receptacles 35 and 36.v The next position of the valves is that shown in Fig. l of the drawings in which the valves 72, 73, 83 and 84 are still shown as bein closed, but the valve 78 has been turne so as to close the outer end of the pipe 75 so as to establish communication of the interior of the receptacle 36 with the outside atmosphere.

During the same time that the valves 72, 73, 78, 83 and 84 are being operated as above described, the valves 65, 66, 92, 93 and 98 are being similarly operated. The operations of these valves are indicated in Figs. 1 and 10 to 15, inclusive, of the drawings.

In Fig. 1 it will be observed that the'receptacle 55 has been emptied'and that the receptacle 56 has been filled and that the valves 92 and 66have been closed. The air newness with the chamber of the hopper 29 in which such pressure existed.

The next position of the valves is indicated in Fig. in which it will be observed that the valve 98 has been turned so as to establish communication between the interiorsof the receptacles 55 and 56, While the other valves 65, 66, 92 and 93 remain as in Fig. 1. By thus placing the interiors of these two receptacles into communication, the pressure therein is equalized and stands at approximately two atmospheres. Thereafterthe valve 98 is turned into closed position as shown in Fig. 11, Next the valves 93 and 65 are opened, preferably successively, as above described. The opening of these valves permits the material to flow from the receptacle 56 into the discharge pipe 89.

. It will be noted that 'at' the time of the opening of the valve 93 as last described, the pressure in the receptacle 56 was two atmospheres. This is desirable in order to cause the discharge of the material from the said chamber 56 and also, from the chamber 55 under like conditions against the normal air pressure. The successive positions of the valves 65, 66, 92 and 93 are shown in; the succeeding Figs. 13. 14: and 15 of the drawings, audit is not thought to be necessary to describe the operation in further detail.

In the first step of the treatment in air at normal pressure, the air and the grain being in series and the permittivity of the gram being greater than air, the latter is broken down and the dielectric strength of the grain being greater thanthe air leakage of the current along the surface of the grain or other granular product which may be under treatment takes place. As already indicated the grain or other granular prodnot under treatment is being agitated andthe grains or particles thereof are being turned over and over so that the entire surface of each and every subjected to treatment. Tn the next step of the treatment in which the air is under pressure, the air and the grain are in series but the placing of the air under pressure has so increased the dielectric strength of the latter that it is greater than that of thegrain or other granular product under treatment. Suchincrease of ressure increases the resistivit of the air.- There is relative increase m the conductivity of any insect life which may be present in the grain or particles of whatever granular product which may be under treatment with the result that I the current will seek out and, as it were, go

after such insect life and destroy it.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in connection with the treatment rain or particle isof grain or other granular product in bulk; that is, with the grain unconfined and not in cartons, it will be understood'that it maybe employed in the treatment of such products confined orcontained'in cartons. :i

By the term air as employed hereins itiis intended to include and suitable gas.

I claim: 1. The process of treating granular material in bulk, which comprises subjecting the same to disruptive conduction and causing the current to pass along the surfaces of the respective granular particles and then causing such a current to pass through said particles.

2. The. process of treating grain which consists in causing a disruptive conductive current of electricity to pass along the surfaces of the respective grains, and then also causing such a current to pass through said I grains.

comprehend any tricity to destroy the insect life with which it may be infested, which comprises subjecting the same to disruptive conduction first in a dielectric of less strength than that of the grain and secondly in a dielectric of greater strength than that of the grain.

4. The process of treating grain with electricity to destroy the insect life with which it may be infested, which comprises the iiowing of the grain through a field and subjectingthe same as it flows through such field to the action of a disruptive conductive current and causing such current to pass along the outer surface of the respective grains, also causing the said grain to flow through a' second field, and, as it flows the'rethrough, subjecting it to the action of a disruptive conductive current and causing the said current to pass through the respective grains.

5. The. process of treating grain with electricity to destroy, the insect life with which the same may be infested, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a disruptive conductive current through atmospheric air at normal pressure and also subjecting the same to a disruptive. conductive current through atmospheric air under a above normal atmospheric pressure.

6. The process of treating grain with electricity to destroy the insect life with which the same may be infested which consists in causing the same to flow in'a relatively thin layer through a field filled with a dielectric of less strength than that of the grain, subjecting the same while in such field to the action of a disruptive conductive current, also causing the same to flow in a relatively thin layer through a field filled with a dielectric of greater strength than that of the grain, and subjecting the same while in such field to the action of a disruptive conductive current.

7 The process of treating grain to destroy the insect life with which the same may be infested, which comprises subjecting the same to the action of a disruptive conduc- 'tive current through a gas surrounding and in contact with the said grain, thereafter varying the condition of the said dielectric to increase its dielectric strengthand sub in jecting the grain to the action of a disruptive conductive current while it is surrounded by the said dielectric. 1

8. The process of treating grain in bulk which comprises the flowing of the same through a gas having a greater dielectric strength than that of the grain and simultaneously subjecting the said grain to the action of a disruptive conductive current of electricity.

9. The process of treating grain with elecmultaneously agitating the said grain or other product and causing it to travel through a field across which said current is dischar mg.

12. The 'process of treating grain or other granular "products with electricity which comprises subjecting the same to a disruptive conductive current in air at a pressure such that its dielectric strength is greater than that of the grain or other product being treated and simultaneously agitating the v said grainor other product and causing it to travel through the field across which the current is flowing.

13. The process of treating grain and other ranular material which consistsin subjecting 'it to the action of a disruptive conductive curent through air at normal atmospheric pressure and while surrounded by and in contact with such air and also subjecting it to the action of such a current through air under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and while surrounded bv and in contact with such air.

14:. The process of treating grain and.

other-granular products-with electricity to destroy the insect life which may be present therein or thereon, which comprises arranging the same in series with air and placing the latter under pressure and thereby increasing its resistivity and dielectric strength and thereby 'causingaf relative increase of-the conductivity Qf-"any' insect life in or upon the surface of such grain or other product 15. The process of treating grain and other granular products with electricity to destroy insect life with which the same may be intested, which comprises arranging the same in series with air at atmospheric pressure, subjecting the same to disruptive conduction to 'cause current to leak along the surface of the grains, thereafter arranging the same in series with air under pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure thereby increasing the relative conductivity of any insect life which may be present in or upon the grain or other product., subjecting the same 'to inductive, conduction and simul taneously agitating the grain or other gran ular product.

16. The process of treating grain with elec tricity which comprises the subjection or the same while surrounded with a gas at atmospheric pressure to the action of a disruptive conductive current and also subjecting the same to the action of the disruptive conductive current while surrounded with such gas at a pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure.

In testimony as my that ll claim the foregoing invention It have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, A. D, 1919.

rnaunniu s. srnrni 

